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Drivers facing $100s in repairs after cars broke down minutes after getting gas – and then they were hit with towing fee

DRIVERS are facing hundreds of dollars in repair costs after their vehicles broke down shortly after filling up at a gas station.

These unfortunate motorists were then hit with towing fees as their cars broke down almost immediately.

Man being interviewed about contaminated gasoline.
WKYC-TV

Drivers in Mentor, Ohio, have been fuming after their cars broke down moments after they filled up with gas[/caption]

Workers repairing a gas leak.
WKYC-TV

It was later found that water had leaked into the gasoline supply after a pipe was left damaged by recent rainfall[/caption]

Gas pump with a yellow "sorry" bag on the nozzle.
WKYC-TV

Many motorists were forced to pay out for repairs and towing fees[/caption]

According to a report by WKYC-TV, a Little Mountain Gas Station in Mentor, Ohio, saw water leak into their regular gasoline supply due to a corroded pipe.

As a result, multiple customers experienced vehicle breakdowns after filling up, leading to costly repairs and towing fees.

One customer, Roy Blahovec, told reporters: “Towed it yesterday, took it to the mechanic, still waiting to hear back how much that’s going to be, but yeah, it’s not great.”

He, like others, are now hoping to be reimbursed for the damages and gas costs, as well as compensation for their time and frustration.

In response, the gas station management has reportedly acknowledged the issue, contacted their insurance provider and pledged to resolve the matter for impacted customers – but no timeframe has been revealed.

“I would like to be reimbursed for my repairs and the gas at the minimum,” Blahovec added.

“My time and frustration, I would love to see some extra money for that, but I’m not sure how that’s going to work out.”

Lake County Auditor Christopher Galloway has since investigated the situation and revealed that water entered the fuel supply due to heavy rain and a corroded leak in the pipe connecting the gas pump to the tank.

But while county auditors are responsible for weights and measures at the pump, Galloway revealed Ohio is one of just three states where counties are not authorized to test fuel quality.

He said: “If we’d been testing fuel quality, it’s possible that we would have detected maybe a trace amount of water in there.


“Which might have been able to alert ownership that they had a problem that obviously got dramatically worse with the rain event.”

The Ohio Department of Agriculture is the only agency authorized to test fuel quality, according to Galloway.

“Even though currently under the law, the Department of AG has that authority, the legislature has not funded that program for them to be able to go out and do that,” he added.

“So, in essence, nobody is doing it.”

Galloway has urged locals to contact their state lawmakers and support Senate Bill 80 – which is new legislation that was recently introduced to give counties the authority to test fuel quality.

In the meantime, affected drivers are advised to contact the gas station directly to provide their information for reimbursement.

What happens if you put the wrong fuel in your tank?

Dwanye Saunders, the owner of Genuine Automotive & Diesel in Austin, Texas, said the common mix up isn’t as dire as people think.

He told The U.S. Sun in an exclusive interview there are things drivers should look out for at the pumps to avoid putting the wrong fuel in your tank, and what to do if it happens.

The first thing he noted is that most gas stations make it very difficult to fill a gas-powered car with diesel. At the pumps, size does matter.

“The nozzle for the diesel pump is usually much bigger than a gasoline pump,” he said.

“So, it’s pretty hard to put diesel in a gas tank, it’s actually easier to accidentally put gasoline in a diesel engine.”

If the wrong fuel type is used, drivers will know right away, as the engine will run incredibly rough before shutting off. When that happens, it’s important to not try and start the vehicle again, as it pushes the fuel further into the system. Forcing the wrong fuel through an ill-equipped engine can cost thousands in repairs, or even merit an engine replacement.

Instead, it’s best to have your vehicle towed to a trusted mechanic, where they’ll begin repairs.

“A good mechanic would drain the fuel tank and flush the lines with fresh gasoline, maybe run some fuel system cleaner through it and it’s usually not detrimental,” said Saunders.

Read more here.

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